Apparatus for the continuous splitting of fats or oils



Feb. 22, 1938. E. MORLOCK 2,108,990

APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS SPLI'ITING OF FATS OR OILS Filed July 6, 1956 Fig.5.

After/16y Patented Feb. 22, 1938 UNITED STATE APPARATUS FOR THE CONTINUOUS SPLIT- TING F FATS OB OILS Emil Moi-lock, Franklort-on-the-Maln, Germany assignor to American Lnrgi Corporation, New

York, 'N. Y., a corporation of New York Application July 8, In Germany ZCll-ima.

This invention relates to an apparatus for the continuous splitting of fats or oils.

It is known to split-up oils or fats into fatty acids and glycerine by intimately mixing the fats with added water and exposing them to suitable temperatures. At the same time additions of zinc, zinc oxide and other substances, possessing the property of facilitating the splitting process, are often employed. The use of such additions can also be dispensed with by operating at temperatures between the approximate range of ZOO-240 C.

The splitting is performed in autoclaves, arranged vertically or horizontally and provided with mechanical or hydraulic stirring devices for the purpose of mixing the oil or fat and water. The known method of procedure is usually intermittent, inasmuch as the autoclave is emptied when the treatment of each charge is completed. Proposals have also been made for rendering the process continuous by passing the mixture to be decomposed through a. conduit of adequate length. This method however, has failed to acquire any practical importance, because partial separation of the mixture of oil andsplitting agent occurs during the passage through said conduit, and also because the time required for producing the maximum result of the splitting treatment entails the employment of conduits of inconvenient length.

The present invention aims at providing an apparatus which enables continuous splitting to be fully accomplished. To this end, in accordance with the invention, the autoclave-which is preferably horizontal, and is fitted with stirrers-is so designed that chambers are formedfor example, either by the stirring mechanism itself or by auxiliary devices-in which, from the point of admission of the liquid onwards, the degree of splitting attained increases by stages.

In order more clearly to understand the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates diagrammatically and by way of example, one embodiment thereof, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section, whilst 1 1g. 2 is a diagram representing the course of the splitting process in the various compartments of the autoclave: and

Figs. 3 and 4 represent details of the stirring mechanism.

Fig. 5 illustrates a side view of a modified stirring mechanism.

Referring to Fig. 1, a is the autoclave, with the actual stirring members c mounted on the shaft 1938, Serial No. 89,131

January 15, 1935 tors or guiding devices of multi-stage rotary pumps (Figs. 3 and 4). They consist, for example, of two annular discs es and c4 mounted on the shaft 1) by means, for example, of a hub 01. Located between the two discs are the blades n, and there is an intake gap 02 between each disc and the hub. These devices set up, in the several compartments a brisk circulation which may, for example, follow the course indicated, for the compartment d, by the arrows shown.

Since, under normal working conditions, a stationary condition obtains the amount of substance. that can pass over from one compartment to the next-preferably by way of the opening 11 at the bottom of the partitionis only so much as corresponds to the quantity that is continuously admitted into, and discharged from, the autoclave. Since the quantity actuated by the stirrers is a multiple of that introduced into the vessel, a positive circulation takes place in so the several compartments.

The autoclave is partially filled with liquidfor example, up to the level 111; represented by a broken line in the drawing-so that the action of the stirrers produces an emulsion of fat, water and steam or of fatty acid. glycerine, water and steam. The amount of the liquid contents is selected so that the time during which the admitted liquid remains in the vessel corresponds to the period needed for the splitting.

The circulation in the compartments can also be .produced by devices other than those described. For example, the shaft b can be provided with radially designed blades which impel the liquid contents radially outwards from the centre. A structure of this character is shown in Fig. 5 in which b-l is the shaft and r are the stirring blades. This stirring mechanism can maintain an ordered circulation in each compartment, even without the partition 0. Each 50 stirring unitcirculates large quantities of liquid, the volume of liquid within reach of each unit is continuously acted upon by the same unit, and only so much liquid can pass from one stirring device to the next as is'supp ed.

The advantages oi the apparatus of the present invention are as i'ollowsz- Owing to the active circulation in the several compartments, no portions of the introduced liqold can pass, in a more or less direct manner, to the outlet, and consequently the calculated duration of the exposure to treatment in the apparatus is actually realised. Moreover, a further substantial advantage results from the circumstance that the degree 01' splitting in the several compartments increases by stages, the cause of this advantage beingthat the rate at which the splitting proceeds depends on the degree of fissionv existing for the time being. If no fatty acid, or only a small amount of same, be present at the outset, the splitting proceeds slowly, and the.

same occurs as the end of the process is nearedthat is to say, towards the attainment of the maximum possible end condition. By reason of the admitted liquid becoming mixed at once with the charge material which has already attained a certain degree of splitting, the reaction immediately sets in vigorously, and progresses intensively in the several compartments up to the last com- I Patent No. 2,10 ,990.

' tion walls between said stirring devices restraining said material against displacement in the horizontal direction, and relatively small openings in said partition walls for transferring small quantities of liquid from each stirring device to the subsequent one in accordance with the admission of fresh liquid to be treated to the autoclave.

2. Apparatus for the continuous splitting of rats or oils comprising a horizontal autoclave of elongated iorm,'intake and outlet openings at opposite ends of said autoclave to introduce material to be treated thereinto and to remove treated material therefrom, a shaft rotatably mounted in said autoclave in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof, a plurality of hubs spacedly mounted on said shaft, 8. pair of annular discs held by each of said hubs, an intake gap between each disc and its associated hub, a plurality of blades between each pair of annular discs and forming a stirring device therewith to cause poweri'ul circulation of said material along a plurality of circular paths in a vertical plane, partition walls between said stirring devices dividing said autoclave into a plurality of compartments, and small openings in the lower portion of said partition walls for permitting restricted flow of material from one compartment to the follow ing one in accordance with the amount of fresh liouid admitted to said autoclave.

mm. MORLOCK.

CERTIFICATE OF commoner.

February 22,. 1938 EHIL MORLOGK.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of theabove numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, second column, line 55, after "supplied" and before'the period insert the words to the former from the other side; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the 'r ec- 0rd of the case in the Patent- Office.

Signed and sealed this 12th day or July, A. 1). 19

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

The advantages oi the apparatus of the present invention are as i'ollowsz- Owing to the active circulation in the several compartments, no portions of the introduced liqold can pass, in a more or less direct manner, to the outlet, and consequently the calculated duration of the exposure to treatment in the apparatus is actually realised. Moreover, a further substantial advantage results from the circumstance that the degree 01' splitting in the several compartments increases by stages, the cause of this advantage beingthat the rate at which the splitting proceeds depends on the degree of fissionv existing for the time being. If no fatty acid, or only a small amount of same, be present at the outset, the splitting proceeds slowly, and the.

same occurs as the end of the process is nearedthat is to say, towards the attainment of the maximum possible end condition. By reason of the admitted liquid becoming mixed at once with the charge material which has already attained a certain degree of splitting, the reaction immediately sets in vigorously, and progresses intensively in the several compartments up to the last com- I Patent No. 2,10 ,990.

' tion walls between said stirring devices restraining said material against displacement in the horizontal direction, and relatively small openings in said partition walls for transferring small quantities of liquid from each stirring device to the subsequent one in accordance with the admission of fresh liquid to be treated to the autoclave.

2. Apparatus for the continuous splitting of rats or oils comprising a horizontal autoclave of elongated iorm,'intake and outlet openings at opposite ends of said autoclave to introduce material to be treated thereinto and to remove treated material therefrom, a shaft rotatably mounted in said autoclave in the direction of the longitudinal axis thereof, a plurality of hubs spacedly mounted on said shaft, 8. pair of annular discs held by each of said hubs, an intake gap between each disc and its associated hub, a plurality of blades between each pair of annular discs and forming a stirring device therewith to cause poweri'ul circulation of said material along a plurality of circular paths in a vertical plane, partition walls between said stirring devices dividing said autoclave into a plurality of compartments, and small openings in the lower portion of said partition walls for permitting restricted flow of material from one compartment to the follow ing one in accordance with the amount of fresh liouid admitted to said autoclave.

mm. MORLOCK.

CERTIFICATE OF commoner.

February 22,. 1938 EHIL MORLOGK.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of theabove numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, second column, line 55, after "supplied" and before'the period insert the words to the former from the other side; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the 'r ec- 0rd of the case in the Patent- Office.

Signed and sealed this 12th day or July, A. 1). 19

(Seal) Henry Van Arsdale, Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

